Midnight Poem

The eerie laugh of silence,

On a wicked night.

Far away from violence,

Everything seems right.

Her face is pale and ashen,

Her lips as dark as blood.

Eyes are smoked with darkness,

Her white dress stained with mud.

She walks past you with ease,

A calmness in her voice.

Asks you to follow her,

Its really not your choice

A lone bench in the corner,

Asks you to sit beside her.

You stare into her pale blue eyes,

Her face contorts with anger.

In a web so tangled,

You know you cannot move.

You only have one option,

But nothing left to prove.

She touches you so softly,

Rids you of all your fear.

You close your eyes to darkness,

Your fate left up to her.

Karaoke Online

Karaoke Night every night. An online karaoke bar where you can sing to your hearts content without any interruption. Turn your home into a Karaoke bar. Invite a few friends over and visit www.thesimsonstage.ea.com

Practice your singing here before you actually go out for Karaoke night and impress your friends with that voice of yours.

Just have fun and sing for yourself. Scream, shout, rap...Whatever makes you happy :)

Pan Roasted Glazed Rockfish with Peas and Carrots

A delicious mouth watering recipe by Chef Tafari Campbell from Maryland. The Pan Roasted Glazed Rockfish with Peas and Carrots if you're catering for a party by the sea side. This recipe stands out because it has a variety of vegetables along with the Rockfish. I'd alter it by adding beans, not much of an altertation but just a little something extra. Tacos are my favorite and thinly sliced ones served with butter is what adds to the dish. The carrots, mushrooms and peas add to the taste making it dishier than if it were only a plain seafood dish with only seafood.

The other chefs at the cook off are just as talented and have come up with scrumptious dishes. It was difficult to choose my favorite. You can vote for your favorite at http://www.greatamericanseafoodcookoff.com/ and win a trip to New Orleans! They've got the judges hooked on to these recipes and I'm sure you will be too. This is one of America's top cooking competitions where the best compete against each other.

If you would like to cook food as great at this you should try these dishes out with domestic sea food. Firstly, its domestic, extremely sustainable and fresh! What tastes better than fresh food? I've reviewed over 50 recipes over the past few months and when it comes to seafood nothing tastes better than fresh sea food. It makes the dish juicier and adds to the taste. This recipe serves 8, if you're cooking for a larger crowd you will need to measure it accordingly.

I'm planning on making this for my cousin's baby shower on Friday for around 20 people. So I'll let you know how it comes out!

Phobias

Most people fear something and I’m no different. I am not going to talk about my phobias in this essay, instead I will briefly describe a few phobias that have fascinated me.

Ablutophobia, the fear of bathing. This is amusing. I have never come across someone with this phobia and hope I never will. Anablephobia is the fear of looking up. I think they they fear birds pooping in their eye which may cause them to go blind . Amathophobia, the fear of dust. I’m sure no one in India has this phobia. Arachibutyrophobia, this is a funny one. It is the fear of peanut butter being stuck to the roof of the mouth. Cacophobia is the fear of being ugly so, why has makeup been invented? Coprastasophobia , the fear of constipation, lets move on to the next one. Domatophobia, the fear of houses or being in a house. This is a new one, I haven’t heard of it before. Eleutherophobia, the fear of freedom. Eosophobia fear of daylight, vampires have this. Euphobia, fear of hearing good news. Geliophobia, fear of laughter. Genuphobia, fear of knees.

Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia- Fear of long words. Lachanophobia- Fear of vegetables. Olfactophobia- Fear of smells. Panophobia, fear of everything. Venustraphobia, fear of beautiful women.

After writing this, I think I’ve got a new fear, phobophobia, the fear of phobias.

Mortifying

I have always wanted to perform on stage but have never had the guts to do so. When I was in class 12 a friend of mine convinced me to dance with her in front of 130 people. I still do not know why I agreed to do so. We had a couple of weeks to practice and she taught me the steps. At the end of two weeks I seemed to know the steps very well. We rehearsed for the final time and I did not make any mistakes.

On the day of the show I was very nervous as I had never danced in front of so many people before. We started dancing and I was doing pretty well. The song was coming to an end when I suddenly forgot the last few steps. Instead of taking the cue from my friend and continuing with the dance I stopped and screamed, “Vidya I’ve forgotten the steps.” Everyone burst out laughing and I’d never been so mortified in my life.

Dress For Success

Wear what you want at home or o the movies or even to a fancy restaurant but when you're deciding what to wear to work you have to take out a little extra time. Sure you can dress comfortably but you also have to dress to impress for success. Some organizations do not have a strict dress code and employees are free to wear anything they feel like. If you are in an organization of that sort you have nothing to worry about. I've noticed most advertising agencies follow this dressing style.

If you work at an organization where you're expected to be prim and proper at all times- this is for the ladies-high waist formal pants are in now. Team that up with a silk or cotton formal shirt tucked in with a thin belt and a compact bag to go with it. You can wear this with semi closed or closed shoes with wedge heels. Stilettos may be slightly uncomfortable but is still worth a try.

You could also go with a straight cut skirt that ends slightly above the knees in colors like black, blue, beige, grey or pastels like light pink, ivory, light blue etc.

Cool high waisted pants

Going for a party straight from office?

If you're going for a party straight from office and do not have the time to change your entire outfit, you could also team these pants up with a party top like a tube top and beads and your done for your night out. Check out the tops below:

String tops which will go really well with those formal pants.

Visit my website at: http://snigdhagupta85.googlepages.com/youroutlook%3F Check out the Daily weight tips as well. A new tip everyday.

Bosch & Lomb

Bosch & Lomb

With Bosch & Lomb's colored lenses you can have a different look every month or every week or even every day for that matter. Its soft so you can't feel a thing and you can get rid of your glasses instantly - let people know how you actually look with that extra zing. Their multi-focal lenses provides an extra clarity - as clear as people with perfect eyesight. Visit their site for a free pair of Bausch & Lomb lenses at: http://www.bausch.com/en_US/default.aspx

Yoga

As serene as a still sea, dense as an evergreen forest, and pure as a mothers love this is my idea of what Yoga is. Yoga came into existence during the Hindu Era around more than 5000 years ago. It was practiced to keep healthy and get rid of mental and physical stress as well. These days its practiced for the same purpose but there are so many different ways and modern types of Yoga for example Beach Yoga where you practice on a beach. The experience is enthralling and a must try. You can read more about Yoga postures on my website here.

Interpreter Of Maladies

I've almost finished reading this book and absolutely love it. The way Jhumpa has narrated these short stories are so simple yet so interesting. Each story is so different from the other which makes the book a great read. I've watched the movie 'Namesake' based on her previous book and loved that as well. Anyway, back to this book, it takes you from Calcutta to the States and back to Calcutta. A mix of the wonderful culture of West Bengal and life in the USA.

Should School Be Compulsory?

If school wasn’t compulsory then we would be a nation with uneducated people. I used to find school extremely boring and wanted to graduate when I was in class 5. I am sure if it were left up to most children in India they wouldn’t want to go to school. I do feel school should be made compulsory at least up to a certain grade.

In our country, people literally count the number of degrees they have. If you have noticed most Multi national companies require you to have gotten a certain percentage in a particular educational field before even considering you for a job. There are a high number of unemployed people but there are also many job openings which have come up most of which require a basic degree.

If you say that many people have dropped out of school and still made it big you are not wrong but it is a very small number.

People who have made a name for themselves have worked their way up and do have a degree. I do not see any harm in slogging for 16 years of your life and living comfortably with a decent income for the rest of it.

Maybe if schools in India were more fun, children would like attending classes regularly and there wouldn’t be the need of compulsory attendance.

Recycling

If there was no such thing as recycling, perhaps the world would be one big junk yard by now. A lot of hard work goes into recycling. Its not an easy task to collect waste, manufacture it, make it into something useful and then create a market for the recycled product. It takes more than a few people to carry out the entire recycling process. The most difficult part of recycling is probably collecting waste. Its tedious and requires a lot of time and energy.

The benefits are innumerous, it helps get rid of so much waste. Also recycled products require a very low capital investment, this encourages companies to get into the recycling business. These days people have become more aware about the environment and prefer buying environment friendly products. It also ensures a cleaner and healthier place to live in. Paper, cans and plastic usually top the list of products that are recycled.

It is not a one time process, recycled products can be recycled again. There is no end to this cycle. Even in India people have become aware and are trying to promote recycled paper, glasses, etc. and many organisations have taken it upon themselves to promote these products.

It is one activity that can be done by anyone as no special skills are required to do so. Recycling should be promoted in a big way in order to get more people involved. It would probably solve only five percent of the world’s problems but solving something is better than solving nothing

As I traveled back in time

As I travelled back in time, everything seemed so unfamiliar to me. It was at that time when fishing was perhaps the only source of livelihood. There were men in white robes, the women were covered from head to toe with only their eyes to be seen, camels, blacksmiths, fishermen, huts, boats and vast deserts. I felt very out of place and knew that all eyes were on me, but nobody said a word. At a distance I saw a deer and a fox, who did not seem to see each other and were both very still. I walked through the desert and saw a few shepherds sitting around a bonfire, probably exchanging stories about their adventures. There were stalls with embroidered garments. The schools were very small. As I kept walking I saw beautiful palaces and towering mosques which I was very tempted to enter. The part I loved the most was diving under water along with divers who had gone underwater to collect pearls. It was time for me to travel back to where I had started out. On my way back home all I could think about were the various sights I had seen at the Dubai museum which is the best museum that I have seen till now.

The Bermuda Triangle- Those who lived to tell

The Bermuda Triangle - Charles Berlitz

The Bermuda Triangle - Who doesn't know about it? I get an eerie feeling just thinking about it. What must it feel like for people who have actually gone there and experienced the eeriness? Parting thoughts in their parting moments...But there were a few who lived to tell.

Could this really be the effect of a whirlpool?

The list of eyewitnesses and survivors of extraordinary and unexplainable events in the Triangle is impressive. Airliner pilots have encountered unexplained and severe “jolts” and “pulses” out of nowhere that have sent big jumbos dashing to the surface in precipitous dives. Clouds have “come out of nowhere” and caused compasses to spin and engine RPMs to drop off. Objects and luminous phenomena have sped past. All electronic equipment has ceased for no known reason: cell phones, radios, navigational equipment, LORAN. There are areas of dead spots, bending of space, loss of horizon. Below are just a few examples of some of the cases. These are not cranks or crackpots. All are accomplished pilots or shipmasters.

Two sides to the Bermuda Triangle Story...The scientific one and the mysterious one. Can scientific be mysterious as well? Either the happenings at the Bermuda Triangle was caused by a whirlpool so strong or by some supernatural powers which caused it to be called the Devils Triangle.

Some skeptics say that given the size of the area of the Bermuda Triangle it isn't at all mysterious for the number of mishaps that have taken place there. This is an arguable point. If it wasn't mysterious I don't think any issue would have been ever raised about it.

A very arguable topic, you can read more about it in this book written by Charles Berlitz

Reality Shows

These days television is all about reality shows, be it dance or singing contests, Bigg Boss, Big Brother, reality dating shows and the list goes on. But do people ever get tired of these shows? I've heard people say "Not another reality show" but we all still watch them. Personally I enjoy watching them. Its just like the numerous number of serials and soaps that we have, only this is real.

Weirdest thing I've seen on a reality show: The host (a woman) slaps a contestant (a guy) which was supposed to be a part of the show and he in turn slaps her back, which apparently wasn't a part of the show. She looked shocked and even more shocking, a news channel played the scene over and over again. I'm not sure if everything is just an act for TRPs.

Another dance show is more like a battlefield where people hurl abuses at each other and perhaps hurl things as well. Do people actually watch the show for the dance or for the extra entertainment that comes out of the show? Then there are shows which bring out the political side and racism and what not. Issues that are not talked about much otherwise.

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Space Exploration

Space exploration is no more an alien concept. After the Second World War there have been advancement in science and technology of rocket design, construction, and flight which enabled space travelers to explore the moon and other planets.

Many unknown facts were discovered. Nations work together to complete joint missions and this promotes peace between countries. It is also very intriguing and pushes man to learn more about the mysteries of space, because of this man has come up with so many new technologies which has in turn made work and life simpler. It has become a very important part of our daily lives. Satellites are used for communication, to carry out biological experiments, navigation, to study the atmosphere and much more.

Space exploration is considered to be one of the greatest achievements of the 20^th century

Television

Can you imagine a month without watching television? There was a time when possessing a television used to be a luxury but now it seems to be a necessity. Everyone seems to have at least one. They’re no longer found only in houses but also in buses, cars and who knows where else.

With the increasing number of channels no one can say that they are bored. Television has more positive effects than negative ones. It serves as a stress reliever. People usually come home after a hard days work and unwind in front of the television. It is also informative and it targets the masses. There are so many news channels that you can have your pick, you are always well informed about what’s happening around the world. There are cartoon channels for children so if you are busy all you have to do is to tune into a cartoon channel which will keep a child engrossed for hours.

Movies, music, sports and serials name it and it’s there on television. Think of life before television and after it. Some may say that television has ruined enjoying the simple things in life but I think it has made life better. If television has ruined anything then why do people continue watching it?

Cultural Beliefs

I do not think that I can define the word ‘culture’. It is a word with a very complicated meaning. Cultures differ not only between various countries, but also within a country. India for example has so many different cultures. Every culture has a set of beliefs which differ from others. Based on these beliefs people either get along or don’t get along. Arranged marriages are very popular in our country. It is done so that in the future there aren’t any problems between families. It is another story whether the boy and girl gel or not.

It is interesting to study about different cultures and know more about each one. If you take a close look and different cultures and compare them you will find a few similarities. Even between the East and West. I really do not know where each culture has come from. Maybe thousands of years ago somebody had made a few rules for his family and that is now a culture. It is fascinating how similar people of a particular culture behave and how different they are from those of a different one.

I am not against each culture having a set of beliefs but it shouldn’t get in the way of living peacefully. These days I find that Westerners are fascinated with the Indian culture. They come all the way here just to study it and people here are fascinated with the culture there. One place where I have seen people from various countries is Dubai. I call it the cosmopolitan city. People speak different languages, wear different kinds of clothes, are of different religions and beliefs. It is truly amazing to see all these people living there in peace. This shows that even people with different beliefs can exist in the same place minus the bad vibes. Instead of fighting for your values and beliefs, it is a lot more fun to study other cultures and learn something from them.

Quote For The Week

"Preach what you practice"

Dear Calcutta,

A tribute to you...





To me it is the most beautiful city in the world...it truly is the city of joy. I've lived there for only 8 years but thats all it took for me to keep going back for more of Calcutta. Just one glimpse of Victoria Memorial got me dreaming about Calcutta. A historical city with so much culture...road side phuchka...Howrah bridge.... nightlife...clubs...chai shops open till wee hours of the morning...lakes...plays...trams...this is home. No matter where I stay or travel I'd always like to return to Calcutta eventually.

When I look at the old buildings I tend to travel back in time and envisage what it must have been like 60 years ago... architecture with British imposing pomp and grandeur.

Calcutta then....

Calcutta now...


Calcutta can be described as a city that lives...a city with a heart and soul its the cultural hub of India.


It's impossible to visualize Kolkata without trams which was and still is a craze with a fare of as little as Rs. 2.



Festivals are celebrated with great hullabaloo, especially Durga Puja where people are dressed in their finest wear and the pandals are so grand with statues of the goddess with intricate details which will cause an amazement that will last you a lifetime.



Coming to the traditional Bengali outfit for women...the 'Bengali Sari.' Without being partial I say that the Bengali way is the best way to drape a sari. It looks so elegant and classy. These days the typical drape is worn typically by village women and the older generation with the house key weighing down the pallu.

To be continued...

'Do unto others as they do unto you,' Love this motto...Don't you too?

Life as we see it

The funny thing about life is that you don't know when it's going to end leave alone how it's going to end or whose going to end it. Read the newspapers and everyday and I mean EVERYDAY you will find articles on "unnatural deaths" which seems to be pretty natural these days. From nobodys to dead bodies, dark isn't it? Such is life...so uncertain.

They got married on the 1st of May last year. "What a perfect jodi*" said people but perfect isn't a word anymore, it more describes an extinct animal...perfect is as real as a Diplodocus. Both of them had wonderrrfulll jobs with wonderrrfulll pays and then came working overtime. She felt he had no time for her he loved her to death (no pun intended) he really did but he did not have the time to show it, so she got busy elsewhere...she found 'love' at her workplace. Eventually he did find out but what followed is shocking...a confrontation...an argument...a murder. That was the end of her life after which he took his own.

6 a.m., Monday morning. She woke up feeling on top of the world. A first ranker all her life nothing could stop her now. All dressed up she went to her university to get her report card. Her final exams were over 2 months ago she was so relieved that she'd never have to study again after all she was a graduate now. People around her were rejoicing...on top of the world that they were finally done with the lectures, classrooms and the monotony but her world stood still...she was shaken seeing the red line under her 'Sociology' marks. Sociology had always been her favorite subject. In shock and unable to reason out what could've happened she went home. 6 p.m., Monday she lay on her bed never to wake up again. Her parents were devastated, friends were horrified and the marks were a mistake. True she would never have to study again...And for what?

The more beautiful life becomes, the uglier we make it :(

*Jodi -Pair